Category: Match Reports

The seniors traveled to Craigbane last Sunday for their penultimate league game of the season. In the picturesque surrounds of the Gerry Crossan Park on a fine summers day Desertmartin gave a fine display of open attacking football. Committed to going forward, minimizing short play in defence they created chance after chance and eventually ran out worthy winners. The home side started the sharper and were 0-2 ahead on ten minutes. A minute later Declan Murray got the Saffrons off the mark with a pointed free. But Craigbane were the more industrious side the in opening quarter with Lee Moore at the core of all attacking play. The pattern of the game changed on the sixteenth minute when Greg McGovern delivered a long diagonal pass to his brother Paul on the right wing who pointed to level the game. Desertmartin winning most possession between the 45s took the lead through a Declan Murray point on the eighteenth minute. Craigbane replied immediately with a point from L Moore to bring things level. Shortly afterwards Greg McGovern again opened the home defence with another long searching pass to Aidy Trainor who extended Desertmartin’s lead when he fired over with confidence on the twentieth minute. From then onto half time Desertmartin were in full control and added further points from Joey Quinn; Fergal Higgins and pointed frees apiece from Declan Murray and Aidy Trainor. Craigbane frustrated at Desertmartin’s dominance conceded a yellow and a black card. Lee Moore once again came to the home side’s rescue when he pointed to leave the half time score Desertmartin 0-8; Craigbane 0-4. From the throw in to the second period the home side were immediately on the attack when Aidy Devine pointed on the thirty-first minute and were disappointed to see a goaling opportunity go wide a minute later. Dermot Breen restored the visitors fortunes with a point and then went close when he rattled another effort off the crossbar. Desertmartin were disappointed at not getting a penalty when Feragal Higgins was bowled over close to the Craigbane goals on the forty-first minute only for the referee to wave play on. But L Moore kept Craigbane’s hopes alive with three further points to trim St Martin’s lead to one point on the forty-forth minute. Desertmartin then raised their game and went four ahead with two points from Declan Murray and one from Enda McGuckin with ten minutes to go. Craigbane were beginning to falter as Desertmartin ran constantly at the home defence. Declan Murray pointed on the fifty-forth minute followed by another from his brother Donal immediately afterwards. By this stage Desertmartin were encamped in the Craigbane half and further scores were inevitable. L Moore scored his eighth point and Craigbane’s last with four minutes to go. Desertmartin maintained the pressure on the home defence with Paul McGovern getting his second point of the evening, Declan Murray his seventh while Stephen Trainor sent to the net on the sixty-first minute to give Desertmartin a 1-16 to 0-9 victory.

The senior ladies played host to Coleraine in the league last Monday evening. On a pleasant summer evening both sides gave a exhibition of open attacking football with emphasis upon quick movement from defence to forwards. The game was neatly balanced at 0-3 each after eleven minutes with the Desertmartin scores coming from Noleen McGuckin (0-1) and Ciara Shaw (0-2, 2f). Coleraine exerting pressure on the home defence scored 1-1 to go four points up by the fifteenth minute. With Noleen Murphy and Emer Breen working hard at midfield Desertmartin began to create opportunities and Ciara Shaw reduced the deficit with a pointed free on twenty minutes. But the threat of Coleraine’s potent half-forward line began to show itself as they carried the ball deep into the home defence scoring two further points to stretch their lead to five. Desertmartin finished the first half the stronger as they created numerous chances with Ciara Shaw scoring her fourth point to trail at the break 0-5 to 1-6. The second half saw the very best of Coleraine with their number nine and half-forward line dominating for most of the second period. Desertmartin will be disappointed about the scores they conceded but can’t be faulted for effort as each of them gave their very best. Like the first thirty minutes Desertmartin finished the half strongly when Ciara Shaw scored two more pointed frees but Coleraine were worthy winners on a scoreline of 5-15 to 0-7.Desertmartin team: L McGuckin; Carmel Shaw; E Donnelly; S McGuckin; T Scott; E Gribben; P McElwee; E Breen; N McGuckin; M Murray; L Breen; Ciara Shaw; Aoife Fullen; E O’Loane and C Walls. Sub used S Campbell.

Well done to the senior team, with a good win up at Craigbane on Sunday 23rd July.

With the sun shining and not a breeze, the ball was moved with pace in an energy sapping affair. There were a few players in new positions due to injury and some not available who put there hands up with great displays.

The final score was 1-16 to 0-9.

The seniors and reserves are down to play Castledawson on Sunday 30th at Longfield going for three in a row.

The senior men played Drum at Longfield last Thusday evening in their eleventh league game of the season. Realising the importance of the game each player gave a whole hearted performance and outplayed a gritty and very determined Drum team. Played on a very calm mild evening with a little dampness on the grass Desertmartin were only a point ahead 0-4 to 0-3 by the seventeenth minute. But they raised their game considerably approaching halftime and when Enda McGuckin goaled from the penalty-spot on twenty seven minutes the Saffrons led by seven points. Drum finished the first half strongly by hitting two points and could have reduced the deficit even more when they hit a penalty shot off the Desertmartin upright. The second period largely belonged to Desertmartin as they outplayed the visitors to go ten points ahead with time almost up. Drum had a late rally and scored three points in injury time but it wasn’t enough as Desertmartin ran out winners 1-16 to 1-9.Desertmartin scorers: Declan Murray (0-6); `P McGovern (0-4); E McGuckin (1-2, 1pen); D Breen (0-1); R Murray (0-1); E O’Kane (0-1) and G McGovern (0-1)

The senior ladies played Magherafelt in a league game Rossa Park last Monday evening. Desertmartin started brightly leading 1-2 to 0-1 after five minutes of play with scores coming from Ciara Shaw (0-1); Emer O’Loan (1-0) and Shannon McCrystal (0-1). But the following fifteen minutes belonged to the Rosses who added four points to no reply. Desertmartin recovered their composure and pressurized the home defence with points from Niamh Fullen and Ciara Shaw. But the home side came roaring back with 3-2 to lead at the break 3-7 to 1-4. Magherafelt’s greater strength and athletic ability showed itself throughout the second half as they continually pressed forward. But Desertmartin’s defence was resolute as they harried and blocked the Magherafelt attacks. Desertmartin added a further 1-2 to their scoreline but Magherafelt ran out worthy winners 5-12 to 2-6.Desertmartin team: L McGuckin; Carmel Shaw; N McGuckin; N McCrory; E Breen; E Gribben; S McGuckin; L Breen; L McCrystal; N Fullen; S McCrystal; Ciara Shaw; E McGuckin; E O’Loan and R McElhennon. Subs used P McElwee; A Fullen and T Scott